Telephone accessory



Dec. 27, 1927. Q 1,654,193

D. 8 S. STEUART TELEPHONE ACCESSORY Filed Oct. 21 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lDyan far:

zawfzas ffuirl" 150E125 ffeuarz Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,193

1 D. s. s. STEUART TELEPHONE ACCESSORY Filed Oct 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Iwl/Infon- 3a 71:25 Jzuari igo ens Jfewarf Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE;

DOUGLAS STUART SPENS STEUART, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TELEPHONE ACCESSORY.

Applicationlfiled October 21', 1927, Serial No. 227,815, and inGreatBritain January 26, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved telephone accessory and moreparticularly v phone art that the transmitter in central battery workingshould be connected to a fixed and more or less rigid support, andforthis reason 111 certain countriesthe use of such a solid backtransmitter as distinct from a handset is lnsisted upon so as to retainall the advantages which a fixed transmitter has over the capsuletransmitter in the handset. Ahandset is liable to be turned to allangles and held in a variety of positions, some of which positionsrenderspeaking very unsatisfactory; in fact in a number of handsets thecircuit from theorchange may be actually broken, causing a disconnectsignal to be given, or in the case of an automatic telephone systemcausing the whole ofthe switches to be released. On the other hand'thehandset hascertain advantages from the point of View of the telephoneuser, as it will be appreciated that the ordinary type of tabletelephone or wall telephone necessitates the subscriber placing hismouthclose up to the mouthpiece. There are several disadvantages to this, oneof which is, that it is very difficult to read a message over thetelephone and it is also difficult to write down a telephone messagereceived. In the case of the pillar-type telephone it is often necessarytolift or move thewhole of the telephone so as tobring it right in frontof the subscriber, and it then becomes diflicult at the same time'towrite on, or read from paper-son the desk.

The principal object of this invention 1s, therefore, the diminution orabolition of strain to the subscriber, and the increase of thefacilitieswhich the telephone can render to the subscriber, and the principalfeature of! this'invent-ion consists of providing an; exceedingly lightflexible tube extend ing' from the transmitter of either a wall orpillar-type telephone to a mouthpiece which may be supported at adistance from the telephone and in a position mosh convenient to thesubscriber.

It is important, in order that the subscriber s hand may be free, thatsuch a mouthpiece should be supported independently and accordingly afurther feature of the invention consists of supportingmeansadjustablewith the mouthpiece and extend+ ingfrom the vicinity of the transmitterso that the mouthpiece may be automatically supported in any desiredposition to which -11; maybe put.

No a part of' the telephone therefore need rest on the desk immediately1n front of a subscriber and accordingly this part of the desk is clearfor either readin or writing. It is found that by carefully constructingsucli a flexible tube. the sound received by the transmitter is. asgreat, or greater, than is received when the mouth is held up close tothe usual transmitter mouthpiece in accordance with the instructionsissued by the telephone operating" companies or administrations, Thefurther feature of the invention therefore concerns the provision ofspecial supporting means whereby theflexible tubecan be placed in anydesired position and can stay in the posit-ionin which it is put. bementionedthat the length of the flexible tube would length of thereceiver cord so'thatthe subscrihers mouth could be at a distance fromear. In certain telephone administrations the regulations insist that-noattachments should be made to the telephone of any kind what ever, andin order to enable the present in,- vention tobeused: without infringingany of such regulations a further feature of the invention consists inproviding a stand on which the pillar-type telephone will rest and whichis firmly held owing to the Weight of the telephone, this stand having aprojection to which aferrule suitably shaped is secured, preferably tomove so as to adjust itself into a position-to fit in the ordinarytelephone mouthpiece when the telephone is placed on the stand. Thisferrule is secured to one end oftheflexible tube, the other end of theflexible tube carrying the mouthpiece and 1 represents one example ofcarrying" the 1I1VI1t1OI11I1t0*8fieCt, 1n whlch a ball and It shouldsually correspond with the with freedom socket joint is used as a meanswhereby the mouthpiece at the end of the 'fiQXllJl tube may be supportedin any desired position; Figs. 2 and 3 representan alternative formwhich avoids the use of a. joint and yet enables the mouthpiece to besupported in a variety of positions, and Fig. t shows :1v third form andilli'istratcs in full how the invention may be applied to a pillartypetelephone without any attachn'ient. clips, or the line.

Referring to Fig. 1, the pillar-type telephone is shown carrying at itsupper end in the usual manner the transmitter with its casing 11. Fromthis transmitter the nsnnl mouthpiece has been ren'myed and in placethereof a ferrule 12 is screwed in. 'i.l1i for rule has attached to it allexible tn which it is important should he lig l durable, and at theSitlslQ time should a free passage of the sound we loss of etiiciei'icy.All the end of the 1 tube 13 is fitted a monthpie 14-. which mouthpieceis considerably llll ilfllv than the usual mouthpiece and is shapedsannowhet as shown. This enlarged ni nllni ere hes the advantage thatthe user is not n arlyso restricted owing; to its size even when hewishes to speak right up to the mouthpiexi, but it should be understoodthat he can speak with considerable ellieienty a few inches away fromthe mouthpiece, while being); still perfectly ai'idible to a listener atthe other end of the telephone. Ei'i'iln'acing the inthpiece and securedthereto is a ring: a. projection 16 adapted to engage 17 secured on theend of a rod 18. i gagement between 16 and l? is such the; while itmakes a still friction tie'l k it jouit which secures the ring to therod 18. it permits freedom of rotation so that the projection 16 ispivoted in socket 1'4 The rod 18 slides in a tube 19 in telescopicmanner. while the tube 19 is screwed into a ball 20. ll" be understoodthat a. number ot telescopic tubes could be provided intermediate therod 18 and the tube 19 so as to give any eesired length of: extension ofthe distance between the ball 20 and the pivot 17. The telescopicattachment, including the rods 18 and it) which would be of the usual.well known design for this type of fitting and would be made of verylight material such as uh iniuin, would be preferably slightly frictiontight. The ball 20 rests in a cup 2i provided with friction material 22at its outer edge against which the ball may be torced by a screw 23 soas to regulate the degree of friction. The cup 22. it should beunderstood is, of course. slightly greater tl an a hemisphere so that itactually enil'iraees the hall and the edge 22 holds the ball when. it ispressed outwarl by the screw 25:3. This cup 21 is supported. on an arm24.- fixed to n sleeve or collar 25 that fits over the ferrule piece insuch position'when it is linished with and not required. lVhen it isrequired, the subscriber removes the mouthpiece out of the fork orcradle 2? mid places it as shown in dotted lines. assuming: that theposition shown is convenient. The friction tigz'ht l all joint would hercgruli'itcd so that the monfhpiece would be held in any position inwhich it. may be put. it will be appreciated that for this "nu-peso notonly the telescopic inenn here. but also the tube and mouthpiece. mustbe exceedingly light in weight. It will be i'nlcd that the telescopicjoint enables the radial d stance of the mouthliiece from the bull 20 tobe varied as desired. while the ball joint permits the mouthpiece to bemoved in c "euni'tercntial direction.

"ring to the idtm'nntivc shown in li ies. ull joints are avoided by thiscon- The ferrule l2 and tube 13 are to those shown in Fig. l. The

n on her is ulso .-;imilar. The collar 25 czr s a special frame :38shown in perspccti re \lfW in Fig. 3. This fr: me coniprises twosemi-cylindrical shells 29. 230. of dili'erent dinnie' rs. with thesmaller extend inn; upwards from the top of the l: rger one. so as toform two shouldei 1' 2, and $32 at dil'li'e 'cnt YGI'tlCEll l'iei g'hts;to the upper shoulder a stirrup 31-3 is attached as is also the collarrod 18 is pivotally connected to the ring 15 as before. The rod it canhe a straight rod or if desired can be telescopic. in he cri' winn'. itis shown as a straight rod i; peration is as follows:

: "1d the i lorinally the mouthpiece ll, would rest in the cradle 27.but \i'hen it desired to Hl'lOflll'. the mouthpiece would he lifted fromthe cradle. and the rod l8. which hangs down in the opening between thestirru 'rl-lfl and the sen'iicvlimlrical shells 29 and P l is lifted endis f (red in eiti of the two positions she in dotted lines, according tothe hei: at which it is desired to normally man in the mouthpiece. it isclear that the ober of shoulders could be varied so that irsieat ofhaying two steps or two planes in which the -21 )L2tl1})10('t can move,

there could be three our. or any other number. by snng'ily p" idineiurthushoulders such. us 31 and 32. The stirrup 33, as will be seen,acts as a pivot and this arrangement avoids the i1?C' S..ll' V of anycomplicated joint.

Ii third construction is shown in Fig. 4.

7 Referring; to this figure it will be seen thal the pillar-typetelephone 10 is placed on u nesanes stand. 86 is a socket 37, and: anextension piece 38 .isalso'provided onthestand. The extens1onp ecei38 18for the purpose oi? increasin 'the stabilit of the arran 'emeut' e Y eto reduce. the danger of it being capsized when the flexible tubecarryingthe mouthpiece is, extended to its furthest position. It isassumed that thepillar-type telephone 10 is exactly as supplied by atelephone operating company and that it is not de sired to attach orclip any external apparatus to such instrument. Consequently theusualmouthpiece 39 is left screwed into the transmitter casing 11. Inthe socket 237. is fitteda shaped rod 40 whichis of such-a size as-tohave a good fit therein while still being capable of movement fortransport purposes when desired. The shapedrod l-O extends upwardstonear the transmitter and then bends out at: right-angles, as shown,and carries at its endan elbow piece 46 having a vertical socket. 41. Inthis socket a ferrule 42 connected to the endot the flexible tube 13 issecured by. means of the milled headed screw 43' which en 'es a aclrcular rod 4s secured to theierrule 42.

i As the elbow piece is also pivoted on the rod 40 and capable of beingsecured where desired by the milled screw it is possible by means ofthese arrangements to ad ust the ferrule to such a position that itsshaped end can enter the mouthpiece-39 and fit snugly therein when thetelephone 10 is placed on the base or stand 36. It will therefore beappreciated that the object of the slope is to cause the mouthpieceiifi) to press against the shaped end 4-5 and therefore insure a tightfit, which is important, 2; not only the transmitter is protected fromextraneous noises but also the speech is received by the transmitter ina more eiiicieut manner. Intermediate the socket ll and theelbow of theelbow piece 46, a collar 47 is pivoted, which collar carries a forkedmember .18. The collar is free to turn about the vertical portion of theelbow piece 48. At the outer end of each arm of the fork 4,8 is pivoteda series of articulated arms 4:9, 50. These articulated arms areconnected at their joints in such a manner that they can move relativelyto each other but with considerable friction; for instance, this couldbe effected by screws and nuts press ing on a spring washer, as is wellknown.

The two series of articulated arms -49, 50 extendon each side of theflexible tube 13, which is provided with a ferrule 51 at the mouthpieceend to which the mouthpiece 1+1; is secured. It should be mentioned thatthe joint of the arms 50 to the ferrulebl is similar to the jointsbetween the arms 48 and 49, and 49 and 50, and permits a rotary Imovement: of the mouthpiece 14: relative, thereto. The articulated armswould: be made of very light material such as duraluminum. Between theopposite joints of each series of articulated arms are straps whi hengage with the flexibletube 13 and so move it to any desired positionas the mouthpiece L- is moved;in dotted lines the mouthpiece, is shownmoved to its ex-.

tended position, whereas the fulllines show the position which themouthpiece mav occupy whcnnot in use.

struction is that thedesk space is left quite free under themouthpieceand therefore the subscriber when using. the telephone hassubstantially anv unobstructed vision or his desk and paperslyingthereon. He can have the mouthpiece in the position most convenientto him and can beperfectly free in that he has not to hold themouthpieceat all, the mouthpiece staying-in: any position to which it. may beput-.

I claim:- v a 1. In combination a telephone transniitter, a mouthpiecefor said transmitter, a flexible tube extending from said transmitter tosaid mouthpiece, anda universally movable support for said mouthpiece.

2. In combination a telephone trans mitter, amoiiithpiece forsaidtransmitter; a flexible tube extending from said transmitter, and astiff universally movable-sup port for said mouthpiece extending fromthe vicinity of the transmitter to said mouthpiece.

In combination pillartype telephone instrument, a. transmitter mountedon said instrument, a stand on which said pillartype telephone rests, amouthpiece on said transmitter, a tube, a'ferrule shaped so asto fitinto said mouthpiece and connected'at one end of said tube, asupportingmember fixed to said stand andiarranged toihold said ferrule in:position in said mouthpiece, and a second mouthpiece connected at theother said mouthpiece, a second mouthpiece connected at the other end ofsaid tube, and a second supporting member connected to said firstsupporting member and adapted to support said second mouthpiece whilepermitting said second mouthpiece to be moved relatively to saidferrule. y

5. In combination a stand adapted to act as a rest for a pillar-typetelephone, a flexi- It will: be noted I that a considerable advantage ofthis conble tube, a :t'errule shaped so as to fit into the mouthpiece ofa transmitter and connected. at one end to said flexible tube, asupporting member fixed to said stand and arranged. to hold. saidferrule in position in said mouthpiece, a second mouthpiece connected atthe other end o't said tube, and a second supporting member adapted tosupport the second mouthpiece and to move relatively to said 'tcr ule.

6. In combination a transmitter, a mouth-- piece on said transmitter, aflexible tube, a second mouthpiece on one end of said lexible tube, aferrule on the other end of said flexible tube siiaped to tit into saidfirst mouthpiece, a SllppOll] for said ferrule, and a support for saidtransmitter, said supports being so arranged that the :terrule and thefirst mouthpiece are pressed against each other by gravity.

7. In combination a stand for a pillartypc telephone instruz'nent havinga. sloping surface on which the instrument sits, a vertically extendingprojecting member rising from the sand, ferrule shaped to til into themouthpiece oil the transmitter oi' said instrument, supporting ineins onsaid member adapted to hold said ferrule at the same height as sale.transmitter, said ferrule and said'sloping surface being inclined to ahorizontal plane at the same angle, a flexible tube to which saidterrule is attached at one end, and a mouthpiece attacl'led to the otherend of said tube.

8. in ci'nabination a telephone transmitter, a moutl'lpiece tor saidtransmitter, a. tlcxible tube extending from said transmitter to saidmouthpiece, and a still, universally movable support for saidmouthpiece.

J. in. combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece for saidtransmitter, a flexible tube GXi'Clltlll from said transmitter to saidmouthpiece, and a freely pivoted member for supporting said mouthpiece.

it). In combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece for saidtransn'iitter, a flexible tube extending from said transmitter to saidmouthpiece, and a stiff, pivoted universal support for said mouthpiece.

ll. in combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece tor saidtransmitter, a flexible tube extending from said mouthpiece to saidtransn'iitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter,and a series of articulated arms joined end to endand extending alongsaid tube troin the supper ing member to said. mouthpiece to hold themouthpiece in a desired position.

19. In combination a. telephone transmitter, a. mouthpiece for saidtransmitter, a i'llillifilti tube extending from said mouthpiece to saidtransn'iitter, a supporting member in the vicinity oi said transmitter,and a series of articulated arms joined end to end in a friction-tightmanner and extending along said tube from the supporting member to saidmouthpiece to hold the inoutl'ipiecc in any desired position.

13. In combination a telephone transmit ter, a mouthpiece :tor saidtransmitter, av tlenible tube extending trom said mouthpiece to saidtransmitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter,two series 01 articulated arms joined end to end in a trictiou-tightmanner and extending along said tube, one series on each side thereof,from the supporting member to said mouthpiece to hold the mouthpiece ina desired position, and straps connecting corresponding joints of saidarticiiilated arms to support the lexible tube at intermediate parts.

151-. In combination a. telephone transmit ter, a mouthpiece for saidtransmitter, a flexible tube extending from said mouthpiece to saidtransmitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter,and a series ot articulated arms joined end to end in a :tri.ctiontigl1tmanner, one end arm being pivoted to said supporting n'iember and theother end arm being connected to said mouthpiece.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature this 10th day ofOctober, 1927.

DOUGLAS STUART SPENS STEUAR'I'.

